Social and Political

VOA – Iran said Saturday that new US sanctions on its petrochemical industry show the hollowness of President Donald Trump’s claims to be open to fresh negotiations with Tehran. “Only one week was needed for the US president’s claim that he was ready to negotiate with Iran to be proven hollow,” foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in a statement, after …

VOA – The U.S. Treasury Department has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC) as part of a series of moves to pressure Tehran to negotiate a new agreement to restrict its nuclear and ballistic-missile programs.The sanctions announced on June 7 hit PGPIC and 39 subsidiaries and foreign-sales agents. The company accounts for 40 percent of Iran’s …

CHRI – Rights Activist Remains in Prison with Dangerous Post-Op Infection Husband Reports Mohammadi Is Being Denied Antibiotics June 7, 2019 – The Iranian authorities must immediately transfer prominent human rights activist Narges Mohammadi to a hospital for full and proper medical care, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said in a statement today. CHRI is deeply concerned by reports …

Radiofarda – Iranian President Hassan Rohani’s chief of staff, Mahmoud Vaezi, has defended Rohani’s call for more power while critics continue to voice their opposition to Rohani’s expanding authority. The Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) quoted Vaezi on June 7 as having said that Rohani needs more power in order “to make decisions about problems quickly.” Source: Hamdeli daily “The president must …

Radiofarda – Pictures released from the Iranian cabinet ministers’ meetings with Khamenei, often also show little-known men in the back rows in a way as if they are watching the cabinet ministers as observers, or rivals of the actual ministers. They are Khamenei’s own ministers. A hidden government rooted in Khamenei’s office, with arms extending to almost every government institution. …

Radiofarda – Mediation efforts between the United States and Iran have received a boost with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announcing plans to visit Iran to prevent the country from leaving the nuclear agreement. The German foreign ministry announced June 6 that Maas will meet with the Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday during a Middle East tour. …

Radiofarda – Iran says European countries have failed to fulfil their obligations in the nuclear deal with Tehran, also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Iranian Foreign Ministry has on Friday June 7 reacted to French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks that were made on Thursday during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Macron said U.S. and France follow the …

Radiofarda – Mehr news agency in Iran reported on Thursday June 6 that Pakistan has released 6 Iranian sailors who were detained in Pakistan. The agency reported that the sailors have returned to Iran. The sailors were arrested on the charges of illegal entry into Pakistan’s waters. However, they claim they were in international waters when they were arrested. According …

Al-Arabia – The United Arab Emirates told United Nations Security Council members on Thursday that attacks on four tankers off its coast on May 12 bore the hallmarks of a “sophisticated and coordinated operation,” most likely by a state actor.In a document on the briefing to Security Council members, the UAE, joined by Norway and Saudi Arabia, did not say …

Al-Arabia – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is due to visit Iran next week in an apparent mediation mission to ease the tension between Iran and the United States.Following are some of the reasons for Abe’s June 12-14 trip, and what it might accomplish. Why is Abe going to Iran? Japan is in a unique position as a US ally …